Skip to playerSkip to main content
CCNTV6
  • 1 year ago
Transcript
00:00:00And a very special good morning Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the world.
00:00:16I'm Marlon Hopkins.
00:00:17As always, welcome to the Morning Edition.
00:00:19It's Monday, 2nd September, right?
00:00:23And thank you very much for joining us this morning.
00:00:25It is the beginning of the new school term.
00:00:27So I know that some of the children are up.
00:00:30If they're not up, wake them up.
00:00:31I know that the parents are up this morning and making all preparations for the children
00:00:36to get to school today.
00:00:38And that's going to be one of the main topics we are going to be speaking about this morning.
00:00:42All right.
00:00:43But before we do speak about that, how was your weekend, the Independence Weekend?
00:00:47I hope it was good.
00:00:48I hope that you spent some time at the Queen's Park Savannah, yeah, and you took the children
00:00:53out.
00:00:54Yeah, like one of their last hurrahs for the holiday, you know, yeah.
00:00:58So I hope that you did that.
00:01:00What happened on the weekend also, there was cricket.
00:01:02I took in some cricket.
00:01:04There's a new, there's a renewed love for cricket from me, you know.
00:01:09Yes, yeah boy, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:01:13It was a very interesting match on, was it Saturday night, right?
00:01:18With TKR and the Patriots.
00:01:22You see, I'm telling you, it was a really good game.
00:01:26But there's this, what's his name?
00:01:29What's his name?
00:01:30You all will tell me.
00:01:31There's this cricketer on the Patriots team.
00:01:35He is from St. Kitts.
00:01:37What's his name?
00:01:38Tall fella.
00:01:40Man, that boy was hitting fours and sixes.
00:01:44I can't remember his name.
00:01:47That's the man.
00:01:48That's the man.
00:01:49Louis.
00:01:50Louis is his name.
00:01:51He's really, really good.
00:01:54For our team too, Nicholas Puran.
00:01:56Yeah, he was amazing on that night.
00:01:59Just how much?
00:02:02A few runs away from his 100 runs.
00:02:05And he was 97 and he was about to break a record.
00:02:09It would have been the fastest 100 in T20 CPL.
00:02:17You see, I know the thing, I know the thing.
00:02:20All right, let's check out to see what's happening in the Daily Express today.
00:02:23All right.
00:02:24So on the front page, school jitters, tutor, Tobago threatens shutdown if buildings are
00:02:29not fit.
00:02:30Lumpkin, educators working under less than adequate standards of repair.
00:02:35And former principal warns of chaotic opening of new school.
00:02:38Right.
00:02:39And that picture there, ready to go.
00:02:41Yeah.
00:02:42Murder during independence fireworks and $15,000 ransom for missing migrants.
00:02:47All right.
00:02:49So concern as schools set to reopen today with a new school year set to begin today
00:02:53with Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association says educators have many concerns
00:02:58over an adequate school infrastructure throughout the country and tutor prepared for shutdown.
00:03:04That's according to tutors, Tobago officer Braden Roberts, former principal, warns of
00:03:11chaos.
00:03:12All right.
00:03:13So let's look at the back page now.
00:03:15Family in shock.
00:03:16Police have no motive yet in kidnapping murder.
00:03:19Police have not yet established a motive for the kidnapping and killing of 42 year old
00:03:23Andre Andrew Bassani, whose body was found on Saturday night.
00:03:29On Saturday, rather, near the St. Madeleine Pond in Prince's Town and a beautiful picture
00:03:35there.
00:03:36Yes.
00:03:37Stunning pyrotechnics explode above the Queen's Park Savannah with the Port of Spain skyline
00:03:42as the backdrop during the 62nd Independence Day fireworks display by Fire 1 Fireworks
00:03:47on Saturday night.
00:03:48The stunning photo was captured by content creator and YouTuber Jonah Hurst of Nags Hill,
00:03:54Lady Chancellor in Port of Spain.
00:03:56That's a beautiful picture.
00:03:57Yeah.
00:03:58OK.
00:03:59So we're moving on.
00:04:00What do we have for our viewers?
00:04:01Some sport.
00:04:02Yeah.
00:04:03So.
00:04:04Yes, that's unbeaten knock Barbados Royals Quinton the cock in full flow against the
00:04:12Antigua and Barbuda Falcons during a match four of the twenty twenty four Republic Bank
00:04:17Caribbean Premier League at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua yesterday.
00:04:23Yes.
00:04:24So we're seeing brilliant performances from some of the cricketers during those matches.
00:04:30All right.
00:04:31So, yeah, I'll take in some.
00:04:33Is any match today?
00:04:34No.
00:04:35All right.
00:04:36Today is a break day.
00:04:37All right.
00:04:38I'll just get prepared for tomorrow's match.
00:04:40Yeah.
00:04:41It's time to remind you of a Trinbago Unice feature.
00:04:44Remember to participate.
00:04:45You can email your videos or images to Trinbago Unice at TV6TNT.com.
00:04:51What do we have for our viewers this morning?
00:04:53All right.
00:04:54That's a beautiful picture there.
00:04:57Yeah.
00:04:58OK.
00:05:00Did the person say what sort of flower and plant this comes from?
00:05:03A guava.
00:05:04Wow.
00:05:05It's a guava flower.
00:05:06Wow.
00:05:07I never noticed that.
00:05:08Maybe it's a very close picture.
00:05:09Right.
00:05:10Yeah.
00:05:11But it's a beautiful picture.
00:05:12All right.
00:05:13So thank you very much to all of our viewers who continue to send your photographs and
00:05:14videos.
00:05:15All right.
00:05:16And remember to put your name.
00:05:17We don't have to.
00:05:18We don't have to.
00:05:19We don't have to.
00:05:20We don't have to.
00:05:21We don't have to.
00:05:22We don't have to.
00:05:23We don't have to.
00:05:24We don't have to.
00:05:25We don't have to.
00:05:26We don't have to.
00:05:27We don't have to.
00:05:28We don't have to.
00:05:29Have your full government name and your address.
00:05:31And we don't need that, you know.
00:05:33We just want to say a very special good morning to you.
00:05:35All right.
00:05:36So you have your coffee, your tea on this very cold day in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:05:40Yeah.
00:05:42It's not a very good morning to be driving to, eh?
00:05:45Poor visibility when I was coming down.
00:05:47All right.
00:05:48So get something to eat.
00:05:49We are coming back, everybody.
00:05:59Introducing Advancis Energy Vitamins.
00:06:20Advancis Energy Vitamins is designed to give you the extra push you need to power through
00:06:24your day.
00:06:25It's not just any multivitamin.
00:06:26Make with more than 20 vitamins and minerals with added ginseng and reinforced prebiotics.
00:06:31A unique synergistic formula that you will find nowhere else.
00:06:35To help you experience more sustained energy, feel more alive and alert to keep you going
00:06:40strong all day long.
00:06:42See the difference now with Advancis Energy Vitamins.
00:06:45Available at leading pharmacies and Pennywise nationwide.
00:07:16Point Fortin Hardware is the leader of residential, commercial and industrial electrical construction
00:07:21materials with a wide range of armored and unarmored cables, ECC cables and much more.
00:07:27We supply all electrical material for domestic and commercial wiring and a wide range of
00:07:32other construction supplies at very competitive prices.
00:07:35All cables are approved by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards.
00:07:38Visit Point Fortin Hardware at the warehouse and wholesale division, Frederick Settlement
00:07:42Company or call us now at 678-0857.
00:07:47Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.
00:07:49Inspiration through dance is fueled by the Spirit.
00:07:50Inspiration is found in the diversity of nature.
00:07:51The inspired word of God directs our hearts.
00:07:52Join us.
00:07:53Join us.
00:07:54Join us.
00:07:55Join us.
00:07:56Join us.
00:07:57Join us.
00:07:58Join us.
00:07:59Join us.
00:08:00Join us.
00:08:01Join us.
00:08:02Join us.
00:08:03Join us.
00:08:04Join us.
00:08:05Join us.
00:08:06Join us.
00:08:07Join us.
00:08:08Join us.
00:08:09Join us.
00:08:10Join us.
00:08:11Join us.
00:08:12Join us.
00:08:13Join us.
00:08:14Join us.
00:08:15Join us.
00:08:16Join us.
00:08:17Join us.
00:08:18Join us.
00:08:19Join us.
00:08:20Join us.
00:08:21Join us.
00:08:22Join us.
00:08:23Join us.
00:08:24Join us.
00:08:25Join us.
00:08:26Join us.
00:08:27Join us.
00:08:28Join us.
00:08:29Join us.
00:08:30Join us.
00:08:31Join us.
00:08:32Join us.
00:08:33Join us.
00:08:34Join us.
00:08:35Join us.
00:08:36Join us.
00:08:37Join us.
00:08:38Join us.
00:08:39Join us.
00:08:40Join us.
00:08:41Join us.
00:08:42Join us.
00:08:43Join us.
00:08:44Join us.
00:08:45Join us.
00:08:46Join us.
00:08:47Join us.
00:08:48Join us.
00:08:49Join us.
00:08:50Join us.
00:08:51Join us.
00:08:52Join us.
00:08:53Join us.
00:08:54Join us.
00:08:55Join us.
00:08:56Join us.
00:08:57Join us.
00:08:58Join us.
00:08:59Join us.
00:09:00Join us.
00:09:01Join us.
00:09:02Join us.
00:09:03Join us.
00:09:04Join us.
00:09:05Join us.
00:09:06Join us.
00:09:07Join us.
00:09:08Join us.
00:09:09Join us.
00:09:10Join us.
00:09:11Join us.
00:09:12Join us.
00:09:13Join us.
00:09:14Join us.
00:09:15Join us.
00:09:16Join us.
00:09:17Join us.
00:09:18Join us.
00:09:19Join us.
00:09:20Join us.
00:09:21Join us.
00:09:22Join us.
00:09:23Join us.
00:09:24Join us.
00:09:25Join us.
00:09:26Join us.
00:09:27Join us.
00:09:28Join us.
00:09:29Join us.
00:09:30Join us.
00:09:31Join us.
00:09:32Join us.
00:09:33Join us.
00:09:34Join us.
00:09:35Join us.
00:09:36Join us.
00:09:37Join us.
00:09:38Join us.
00:09:39Join us.
00:09:40Join us.
00:09:41Join us.
00:09:42Join us.
00:09:43Join us.
00:09:44Join us.
00:09:45Join us.
00:09:46Join us.
00:09:47Join us.
00:09:48Join us.
00:09:49Join us.
00:09:50Join us.
00:09:51Join us.
00:09:52Join us.
00:09:53Join us.
00:09:54Join us.
00:09:55Join us.
00:09:56Join us.
00:09:57Join us.
00:09:58Join us.
00:09:59Join us.
00:10:00Join us.
00:10:01Join us.
00:10:02Join us.
00:10:03Join us.
00:10:04Join us.
00:10:05Join us.
00:10:06Join us.
00:10:07Join us.
00:10:08Join us.
00:10:09Join us.
00:10:10Join us.
00:10:11Join us.
00:10:12Join us.
00:10:13Join us.
00:10:14Join us.
00:10:15Join us.
00:10:16Join us.
00:10:17Join us.
00:10:18Join us.
00:10:19Join us.
00:10:20Join us.
00:10:21Join us.
00:10:22Join us.
00:10:23Join us.
00:10:24Join us.
00:10:25Join us.
00:10:26Join us.
00:10:27Join us.
00:10:28Join us.
00:10:29Join us.
00:10:30Join us.
00:10:31Join us.
00:10:32Join us.
00:10:33Join us.
00:10:34Join us.
00:10:35Join us.
00:10:36Join us.
00:10:37Join us.
00:10:38Join us.
00:10:39Join us.
00:10:40Join us.
00:10:41Join us.
00:10:42Join us.
00:10:43Join us.
00:10:44Join us.
00:10:45Join us.
00:10:46Join us.
00:10:47Join us.
00:10:48Join us.
00:10:49Join us.
00:10:50Join us.
00:10:51Join us.
00:10:52Join us.
00:10:53Join us.
00:10:54Join us.
00:10:55Join us.
00:10:56Join us.
00:10:57Join us.
00:10:58Join us.
00:10:59Join us.
00:11:00Join us.
00:11:01Join us.
00:11:02Join us.
00:11:03Join us.
00:11:04Join us.
00:11:05Join us.
00:11:06Join us.
00:11:07Join us.
00:11:08Join us.
00:11:09Join us.
00:11:10Join us.
00:11:11Join us.
00:11:12Join us.
00:11:13Join us.
00:11:14Join us.
00:11:15Join us.
00:11:16Join us.
00:11:17Join us.
00:11:18Join us.
00:11:19Join us.
00:11:20Join us.
00:11:21Join us.
00:11:22Join us.
00:11:23Join us.
00:11:24Join us.
00:11:25Join us.
00:11:26Join us.
00:11:27Join us.
00:11:28Join us.
00:11:29Join us.
00:11:30Join us.
00:11:31Join us.
00:11:32Join us.
00:11:33Join us.
00:11:34Join us.
00:11:35Join us.
00:11:36Join us.
00:11:37Join us.
00:11:38Join us.
00:11:39Join us.
00:11:40Join us.
00:11:41Join us.
00:11:42Join us.
00:11:43Join us.
00:11:44Join us.
00:11:45Join us.
00:11:46Join us.
00:11:47Join us.
00:11:48Join us.
00:11:49Join us.
00:11:50Join us.
00:11:51Join us.
00:11:52Join us.
00:11:53Join us.
00:11:54Join us.
00:11:55Join us.
00:11:56Join us.
00:11:57Join us.
00:11:58Join us.
00:11:59Join us.
00:12:00Join us.
00:12:01Join us.
00:12:02Join us.
00:12:03Join us.
00:12:04Join us.
00:12:05Join us.
00:12:06Join us.
00:12:07Join us.
00:12:08Join us.
00:12:09Join us.
00:12:10Join us.
00:12:11Join us.
00:12:12Join us.
00:12:13Join us.
00:12:14Join us.
00:12:15Join us.
00:12:16Join us.
00:12:17Join us.
00:12:18Join us.
00:12:19Join us.
00:12:20Join us.
00:12:21Join us.
00:12:22Join us.
00:12:23Join us.
00:12:24Join us.
00:12:25Join us.
00:12:26Join us.
00:12:27Join us.
00:12:28Join us.
00:12:29Join us.
00:12:30Join us.
00:12:31Join us.
00:12:32Join us.
00:12:33Join us.
00:12:34Join us.
00:12:35Join us.
00:12:36Join us.
00:12:37Join us.
00:12:38Join us.
00:12:39Join us.
00:12:40Join us.
00:12:41Join us.
00:12:42Join us.
00:12:43Join us.
00:12:44Join us.
00:12:45Join us.
00:12:46Join us.
00:12:47Join us.
00:12:48Join us.
00:12:49Join us.
00:12:50Join us.
00:12:51Join us.
00:12:52Join us.
00:12:53Join us.
00:12:54Join us.
00:12:55Join us.
00:12:56Join us.
00:12:57Join us.
00:12:58Join us.
00:12:59Join us.
00:13:00Join us.
00:13:01Join us.
00:13:02Join us.
00:13:03Join us.
00:13:04Join us.
00:13:05Join us.
00:13:06Join us.
00:13:07Join us.
00:13:08Join us.
00:13:09Join us.
00:13:10Join us.
00:13:11Join us.
00:13:12Join us.
00:13:13Join us.
00:13:14Join us.
00:13:15Join us.
00:13:16Join us.
00:13:17Join us.
00:13:18Join us.
00:13:19Join us.
00:13:20Join us.
00:13:21Join us.
00:13:22Join us.
00:13:23Join us.
00:13:24Join us.
00:13:25Join us.
00:13:26Join us.
00:13:27Join us.
00:13:28Join us.
00:13:29Join us.
00:13:30Join us.
00:13:31Join us.
00:13:32Join us.
00:13:33Join us.
00:13:34Join us.
00:13:35Join us.
00:13:36Join us.
00:13:37Join us.
00:13:38Join us.
00:13:39Join us.
00:13:40Join us.
00:13:41Join us.
00:13:42Join us.
00:13:43Join us.
00:13:44Join us.
00:13:45Join us.
00:13:46Join us.
00:13:47Join us.
00:13:48Join us.
00:13:49Join us.
00:13:50Join us.
00:13:51Join us.
00:13:52Join us.
00:13:53Join us.
00:13:54Join us.
00:13:55Join us.
00:13:56Join us.
00:13:57Join us.
00:13:58Join us.
00:13:59Join us.
00:14:00Join us.
00:14:01Join us.
00:14:02Join us.
00:14:03Join us.
00:14:04Join us.
00:14:05Join us.
00:14:06Join us.
00:14:07Join us.
00:14:08Join us.
00:14:09Join us.
00:14:10Join us.
00:14:11Join us.
00:14:12Join us.
00:14:13Join us.
00:14:14Join us.
00:14:15Join us.
00:14:16Join us.
00:14:17Join us.
00:14:18Join us.
00:14:19Join us.
00:14:20Join us.
00:14:21Join us.
00:14:22Join us.
00:14:23Join us.
00:14:24Join us.
00:14:25Join us.
00:14:26Join us.
00:14:27Join us.
00:14:28Thank you, Mr. Roberts.
00:14:29And as I listen to you, Mr. President, it seems to be a really messy state of affairs
00:14:34when it comes to our schools and infrastructure and the readiness of our learning institutions.
00:14:41It's in a mess.
00:14:42It is.
00:14:43One can determine that it is in a mess.
00:14:46I must say that our administrators, principals, school supervisors, the whole administrative
00:14:53staff, do what they can with the limited resources that they have.
00:14:58We are well aware of the financial situation in the country.
00:15:02But we have also said and gone on record that education is too an important area in Trinidad
00:15:10and Tobago to have lack of funding affect it and affect it to the point that it is right
00:15:17now.
00:15:18A lot of schools are on a tread in terms of continuing the day-to-day functioning.
00:15:27We feel that the Ministry of Education and by extension the government of the Republic
00:15:32of Trinidad and Tobago, the Division of Education, should be putting a greater effort.
00:15:39These are lives you're talking about.
00:15:40This is the future of Trinidad and Tobago.
00:15:43This is the future of national development, of human resource capital.
00:15:48And we seem not to be taking it as serious as it should be.
00:15:54And at times we are taken for granted.
00:15:57By and large, educators will do what they have to do in order to have their students
00:16:02educated, but it is reaching to a point where we are really, really not at a comfortable
00:16:11position.
00:16:12Yeah.
00:16:13Mr. Roberts, are there any particular schools that will come under your radar today?
00:16:19Are there particular schools that you plan to visit today to see what the condition is?
00:16:24Right.
00:16:26So I would have sent two separate lists to the Division.
00:16:29I would have sent a list in April because by September, I did not plan to meet any banter
00:16:35with the Secretary and the Division, you know, we're going to act accordingly.
00:16:38So despite getting a list very early of the work to be done, we still ended up with contracts
00:16:42being given out last week.
00:16:45That being said, we have Roxborough Anglican where the ceiling is a concrete ceiling where
00:16:51pieces of it are falling in.
00:16:54We have some schools with serious termite issues where the furniture, the flooring of
00:17:00the school is compromised.
00:17:03We have other plumbing issues and lighting issues that we're going to attend to this
00:17:08morning.
00:17:09So my intention is to visit those schools from all the way up to Roxborough Anglican,
00:17:13all the schools I can visit on the way up and on the way down.
00:17:16I would just have a looking at where they are with the repairs.
00:17:20I know that the Division is treated with some of the critical things, but with our
00:17:25aging schools, majority of our issues will get a critical state.
00:17:30So there are several things that our teachers and principals are not happy with, but mainly
00:17:34as I said before, I mean to not even clean the school, even if you have furniture shortage,
00:17:40to be in a dirty school, leaving your home to go to a dirty school for any person is
00:17:44where the great discomfort is.
00:17:47Yeah.
00:17:48Mr. Lumpkin, recently you said that and you reminded teachers that they are not to report
00:17:55to work or to school if their assigned school is closed.
00:18:00You maintain that position?
00:18:02We maintain that position.
00:18:04All our educators are assigned schools from the Teaching Service Commission by letter
00:18:10of appointment and the Ministry of Education cannot unilaterally change that.
00:18:16Even if the school is closed, they cannot report to anywhere else.
00:18:21What's the purpose of doing that?
00:18:22When they report to whatever place, how are they signing on for duty?
00:18:28What are their duties at that time?
00:18:30So the Ministry of Education has attempted in the past and quite recently because we
00:18:36had instances of Thursday and Friday where schools were supposed to be sprayed and we
00:18:42all know the challenge of the dengue, that disease, and schools could not have been sprayed
00:18:50before because we are well aware that the units in the Ministry of Health are challenged
00:18:56by lack of equipment.
00:19:00So they have to schedule and some were scheduled for the Thursday and Friday and the Ministry
00:19:06of Education attempted to have persons report to places outside of their workplace.
00:19:15And I want to also caution our administrators.
00:19:18In doing so, you have to remember you cannot remove the official books and documents from
00:19:26the school to take it on another compound.
00:19:30That is against the regulations.
00:19:32Sometimes in their enthusiastic way of doing things, they do that and can be charged accordingly.
00:19:40But we maintain that once the place that the educators and education professionals are
00:19:46assigned, they cannot be assigned elsewhere unless the Teaching Service Commission gives
00:19:52the approval.
00:19:53Mr. Roberts, is there the possibility today that some students are going to report to
00:19:57school and they are going to have to be sent home?
00:20:01Is that a strong possibility, a possibility at all?
00:20:04Well, based on the feedback on the ground, yes, that's a strong possibility.
00:20:08I know that I saw a memo from the Pentecostal Light and Life Foundation, that's the primary
00:20:14school, where the PT would have advised the parents to not send out their children.
00:20:20We have two other schools where I heard a little rumbling, similar commentary, that's
00:20:26Belgarden, I think that's an Anglican school, but they would have sent out little communications
00:20:33on the ground as well, monitoring the readiness of school.
00:20:37Well, contrary to the article in the Express, the highlight though, tutors don't shut down
00:20:44their limbs.
00:20:45Once we go to our place of work and there are breaches to health and safety, there is
00:20:51the refusal to work that we can utilize, and we utilize it responsibly.
00:20:55So we usually guide our teachers on how they utilize such, but it's a strong possibility
00:21:02that the schools would not function to capacity today, in that even the secondary schools
00:21:08is not that they need 10 or 15 more chairs, they need like 200 and something more.
00:21:14We had two years ago where you saw some children from secondary standing up in corners of the
00:21:19classroom taking notes, lapping their foot to right on their laps because they don't
00:21:23have their stepressor.
00:21:26It's a similar situation where we are in come this September morning.
00:21:30Yeah.
00:21:31You know, Mr. Lumpkin, and I think I did raise that last time that we spoke in that, again,
00:21:38there seems to be a disconnect between the education ministry and tutor.
00:21:45When we speak to tutors, sometimes we get the impression, look, the Ministry of Education
00:21:51is heading into certain directions, particular directions, and tutor is not apprised of anything,
00:22:00and sometimes the plans really come like a thief in the night.
00:22:05So does it speak to the management attitude, if I can put it that way, of the education
00:22:15ministry, the management style of the education minister?
00:22:20Is it a situation where tutor is losing confidence in the ministry and its minister?
00:22:27We want to say that, by and large, we will get cooperation from the functionaries of
00:22:32the Ministry of Education.
00:22:35It has to do with the drill down of policies, and as you know, as you're well aware, and
00:22:41this is also in relation to the division, that the head of the ministry and the division
00:22:51will normally institute policies, and they will also direct the public, well, they're
00:22:59not really supposed to, because a politician is not supposed to instruct the public servants.
00:23:05They can liaise with the permanent secretary or the administrator, and those persons will
00:23:12now drill down the policies.
00:23:14So in the past, it appears as if the persons in the office of secretary or minister have
00:23:24seemed to be, seem to take the stance that tutor is an obstructionist, that we are there
00:23:31to prevent their policies from taking place.
00:23:34However, we have maintained throughout that we are there to assist.
00:23:39We have our ears on the ground through our membership, and we, our members will be able
00:23:45to best guide us to guide the Ministry of Education.
00:23:49So we have seen in the past that past ministers, past secretaries have seemed to leave, left
00:23:55out tutor in their deliberations.
00:23:58We have heard the utterance of one minister say that tutor will only be advised, not consulted,
00:24:07advised when it is necessary.
00:24:09We say that cannot happen.
00:24:11Tutor is there as a body that will assist in all aspects, because the first thing in
00:24:17our constitution is to work towards the cause of education, whether it be in industrial
00:24:24relations, whether it will be in professional development, we are there.
00:24:29And we have displayed in the past that we are not obstructionists.
00:24:34We are there to assist both in the division and in the ministry.
00:24:40But some politicians, and I want to say at this point, education is far too important
00:24:44to have party politics play a part in the education system, and for politicians to kick
00:24:52around the education system like a football, because we are playing with lives, we are
00:24:58playing with the nation, and we are playing with the future of our nation.
00:25:04And we shouldn't be playing party politics from either side, whether it's in government
00:25:10or opposition.
00:25:11We need to sit down and we need to work for what is in the best interest of the education
00:25:18system.
00:25:19You know, Mr. Roberts, you have spoken about some serious issues and serious health and
00:25:24safety issues.
00:25:25You're speaking about plumbing issues, lighting issues, roofing and ceiling issues, and not
00:25:32to forget, Mr. Roberts, the rodent infection issues where we have spoken about in the past.
00:25:39To me, I would have thought that at this time, those issues would have been resolved.
00:25:45Well, I understand the hope that you would have had, and I would have had the same hope.
00:25:51But I would say, I'm not disappointed, you know, look at the attitude of those at the
00:25:57helm.
00:25:58You're not seeing the level of seriousness.
00:26:00And that's why we are always prepared, and a tutor has to be critical of the work that
00:26:05is done in education, and that's why they would find us to be obstructionists.
00:26:09We are not there to be passively going along with whatever the militia and the division
00:26:12comes along with.
00:26:15And that is a reflection of our education system, and we are having a very poor reflection
00:26:19right now.
00:26:20Tutor has to do its job, and we would have submitted to the division, and that's where
00:26:24for me, it shows that the division either don't care, or they don't, they are not prepared
00:26:30to deal with the gravity of the education system as it is on the island, and I'm seeing
00:26:34the same thing being portrayed in Trinidad.
00:26:37It's not about the politics, as Mr. Lamkin would have rightfully said, but we have to
00:26:42ensure that education is at the place where it needs to be, so that we don't have the
00:26:47high levels of delinquency that we have now, where our crime rate is increasing.
00:26:51So yes, we are pretty critical, we do our research, we do our background information,
00:26:56we go to the division and the ministry with data, with information, with suggestion, but
00:27:00the feedback that we get does not see that seriousness as being reciprocated.
00:27:05So we're going to continue to do our job and advise our members accordingly, and as needed,
00:27:10we will engage the media, but the main thing is to get the action items done by those persons
00:27:15who are responsible.
00:27:16Well, the Minister of Education, she sent out a statement yesterday, and it's really
00:27:23a statement to the children, to the students, and she says, while everything in your home
00:27:28community and even in your school may not be perfect, that in itself can teach you an
00:27:34important life lesson.
00:27:36Life is not perfect, and the most successful people in the world are those who have made
00:27:41it through difficulties and have achieved their goals in spite of that.
00:27:45So she lauded teachers for their continued work, saying that the work they did developed
00:27:49students which were the nation's greatest asset.
00:27:55And how long can you go on to say that life is not perfect, and that you need to find
00:28:02ways to get around challenges?
00:28:05Yes, we acknowledge that, however, we cannot use that as an excuse or a way to get around
00:28:13your responsibility as the persons in charge of the system.
00:28:20How long are we going to keep saying that?
00:28:22It is going on for far too long, and when you continuously have persons under these
00:28:29sort of conditions, their morale drops.
00:28:32That is human nature.
00:28:34You have to try to bring up and uplift them.
00:28:38But when you are seeing conditions around you that seem to always bring you down, society
00:28:44is challenged, and now in the school environment, they are challenged as well, too.
00:28:50It lends a certain message to them, and yes, we will always encourage our members, the
00:28:58parents, to work with what you have, but you can't keep pressing them down all this time.
00:29:04There must be some light at the end of the tunnel, and at this time, we are not even
00:29:08seeing a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.
00:29:11We don't know where the tunnel ends at this time.
00:29:14So yes, as the Minister of Education, you send out that message, but there must also
00:29:21be some substantive interventions that take place that we are not seeing at this time.
00:29:28Mr. Roberts, what is the feeling among your membership in Tobago, among your teachers?
00:29:35How do they feel as to what they have been seeing and hearing, and as they prepare to
00:29:41go out to school today?
00:29:43I am grateful that you have asked me that.
00:29:45Actually, they are trying to eat me raw right now.
00:29:47They are very displeased.
00:29:49We have been trying within the ranks to comfort our members, and a number of our teachers
00:29:55had to be out during the weekend cleaning the classrooms for themselves, painting the
00:30:00classrooms, because the state of their rooms is not where, as the Minister said, it is
00:30:06tough times, and they have to learn to get through tough times.
00:30:08It is disrespectful to our teachers.
00:30:10Our teachers spend a large number of their resources trying to uphold the education system,
00:30:16and to see that it has reached a stage where teachers are cleaning and painting for themselves.
00:30:20Parents have been reaching out, asking for their association to give some feedback as
00:30:24to what is happening with the schools, because we know that the division sent out information
00:30:29last night, or late yesterday evening, informing us that schools will be open and so forth,
00:30:35but the information was not readily available.
00:30:37There is a bit of unease, and that is why it is important for us to be on the ground
00:30:42both to provide that support to the teachers, and to hear and get the real issues that we
00:30:48could report to the division and the media accordingly.
00:30:51But it is a bit unsettling this morning, and that is not the way to start a school year at all.
00:30:58Mr. Lumpkin, has there been any development?
00:31:01Has there been any movement?
00:31:04Because I know that over the past few days you all have been involved in protests over
00:31:08insurance, refunds.
00:31:10Has there been any development concerning that?
00:31:12We have no new developments to report at this time.
00:31:16What I can say is that a management committee meeting was called right after we had the
00:31:22last demonstration, but nothing new was reported at that time.
00:31:27And we are signaling to the authorities once again that we are in a situation that is having
00:31:36very uneasy, and that is putting it lightly.
00:31:39They are very frustrated at the fact that they have to wait so long.
00:31:43Monies are taken out of their salaries quite easily, but yet still they cannot get the
00:31:50benefits that are afforded to them.
00:31:53And we are calling on the authorities to have that situation clarified and put in.
00:32:02If it is that there has to be other ways of funding or bridging that gap, let it be known.
00:32:11But the silence of the state in this instance has our members very, very uneasy.
00:32:20A number of them are asking to drop out of the plan.
00:32:23It's a mandatory plan, and they are asking to drop out because they are not seeing the
00:32:28benefit of the plan.
00:32:31We are in the process as well at looking at the documents of the plan and taking our decision
00:32:38on the next step forward should the government not clarify and rectify the situation.
00:32:47Yeah.
00:32:48Mr. Roberts, what's your message to both parents and students today, and even teachers?
00:32:55Well, of course, we will have to sift through all the dirt and get to the positive of today.
00:33:02We are going to try our very best to do what is within our remit.
00:33:06However, if we continue to allow certain things to just slide, the division and the ministry
00:33:12will never change.
00:33:13So we are going to be responsible in our operation this morning.
00:33:17I would not want our teachers to over-exaggerate any situation despite the frustration that
00:33:22may be felt.
00:33:24We are going to support each other.
00:33:27Parents, once we start the academic year, when we collaborate positively with our schools,
00:33:33we will find some of the solutions we need to find in the interim while we clamor for
00:33:37the division to do much better than they are doing now.
00:33:40So while we will have a bit of frustration on the ground, we still want to find a little
00:33:45bit of positivity when we focus on the task at hand, because every day lost in education
00:33:50is a significant day where we need to impact our society positively.
00:33:55So that's where I would want to leave, where we still find some way to find that strength
00:34:00within to be a little positive in getting something done despite the challenges we face.
00:34:05Yeah.
00:34:06Mr. Lumpkin, you all are heading out to the Mount Hope Secondary School this morning?
00:34:11Yes, I will be present along with the school's PTA, because they are going to highlight their
00:34:19recommendation at the conditions that their children are facing.
00:34:23Mount Hope Secondary staff and parents feel as if they are being neglected, because recommendations
00:34:31have been made to have emergency repair done to the school.
00:34:35But what we are told is that when it reaches the higher offices, it's shut down.
00:34:41They are told that there are other schools that require the repairs.
00:34:47But if one takes a look at Mount Hope, and I have to say, the staff has invited the OSH
00:34:53agency, OSHA, to be there on three occasions, most recently during the vacation.
00:34:59And there is a prohibition notice as well as an improvement notice for that school.
00:35:06The school was built in the early 1970s as one of the junior secondary schools.
00:35:12And as the ministry has rightly said, a number of secondary and primary schools, they have
00:35:18outlived their lifespan.
00:35:21Mount Hope Secondary is one.
00:35:23And what is even more daunting, the school was rebuilt in around 2007, 2008, around that time.
00:35:32And if you see the structure now, it is dilapidated.
00:35:37It is unoccupied.
00:35:40And when we ask what will it take to bring that up to standard, the ministry would have
00:35:46revealed that they may not be able to occupy because of structural issues, because of the
00:35:52lack of occupation for the number of years.
00:35:55To see tens of millions of dollars being spent and going down the drain, to have that
00:36:01being on their doorstep every day, that is not encouraging for them.
00:36:06And then they have to occupy areas that are not...
00:36:09Ventilation and lighting is a challenge.
00:36:12There are some cracks when they had a big earthquake.
00:36:17There were some challenges to the infrastructure.
00:36:21And you have these teachers and students, educators, going to this compound.
00:36:26And I must say, Mount Hope Secondary's CSEC results have been improving over the years.
00:36:33So they are feeling that they are being punished, in other words, for doing so well.
00:36:39They are not being given any sort of encouragement.
00:36:43So it's like, all right, we all are doing well under those conditions.
00:36:47Continue to do well.
00:36:49So they will be there to highlight.
00:36:51I saw that some photos were shown of the conditions.
00:36:56That's just part of it.
00:36:58You have other aspects right now at Mount Hope Secondary.
00:37:03Mr. Lumpkin, Mr. Roberts, thank you very much for speaking with us this morning
00:37:07and trying to give us a sense as to what is happening at the nation's schools.
00:37:11Of course, I'm sure that the media will be in contact with you all today as things develop.
00:37:18But gentlemen, thank you very much again.
00:37:20We do appreciate it.
00:37:21Mr. Lumpkin, thank you very much again for braving the rains and coming up the road.
00:37:25Thanks again. It's good to see you in person.
00:37:27Welcome and thank you for having us once again.
00:37:29Bye, Mr. Roberts.
00:37:31It's a pleasure.
00:37:32Bye for now.
00:37:33Okay, so we are going to have a very short break, everybody.
00:37:35We're coming back.
00:38:01We'll be right back.
00:38:31Thank you very much.
00:39:01Thank you very much.
00:39:31Your word is your bond.
00:39:45If you say it, mean it.
00:39:47How would us feel when people promise something and then bail out, especially with money?
00:39:52Not nice, right?
00:39:53So why would us do it till we turn?
00:39:55Keeping your word is an essential aspect of parenting.
00:40:02Make sure that what you say lines up with your actions.
00:40:07If you promise your child something, follow through on that promise.
00:40:12This consistency shows your child that they can rely on you and trust your word.
00:40:19At the end of the day, do your best.
00:40:24Share if you found this useful.
00:40:26Like and follow CTA's profiles for more parenting tips.
00:40:30The letter of the day is W.
00:40:34W is for word.
00:40:55All right, so welcome back, everyone.
00:40:58So members of the judiciary are told the population is waiting for the day when criminals in this country reap the consequences of their actions.
00:41:07This comes from Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.
00:41:11I want to say today to the Commissioner of Police that you and your officers, all almost 10,000 of you, are to relentlessly pursue criminal conduct, especially violent criminal conduct, because there is no prize for second place.
00:41:31And I want to say to the Chief Justice in your presence that the population is awaiting the day when the criminals will feel fearful to approach the court and be found guilty of criminal conduct.
00:41:46All right, so the Prime Minister was speaking at the annual Independence Day toast of the T.T.P.S.
00:41:54All right, so we do have on the line this morning, President of the Police, Social and Welfare Association, A.S.P. Gideon Dixon.
00:42:00Mr. Dixon, always good to speak with you.
00:42:02Thank you very much for being with us this morning.
00:42:07Thank you very much, Mr. Haqqadisi.
00:42:11Yeah, well, Mr. Dixon, you have heard what the Prime Minister had to say when he spoke on Independence Day.
00:42:20What's your reaction?
00:42:24Well, I was present, and my reaction was one synonymous with the persons in attendance.
00:42:32Loud tributes came in terms of applause.
00:42:38I felt that the Prime Minister had a good week last week, all things considered, because in the first instance at the start of the week, he spoke to those who would have been engaging in choosing a life of crime and engaging the police officers.
00:42:53And we see that within recent times, when that occurs, it is not good results for those who have chosen that life of crime.
00:43:03And the Prime Minister spoke in relation to that.
00:43:06And then on Saturday, in the Toast to the Nation, he spoke to the judiciary.
00:43:11And we have in the past indicated that we believe that more could be done from the realms of the judiciary.
00:43:20Particularly when we look at data which suggests that we have a revolving door situation, and it is a few persons in our society that is causing this mayhem, this chaos, this negative impact on the country.
00:43:36And we have to find ways and means either to protect the law abiding, which is 1.3 plus million persons from this group of persons, or those who we have detained.
00:43:50The system in terms of rehabilitation or restoration of how they should be before they come back into society should be one that is more focused with a view of bringing back a level of normalcy in the country.
00:44:08Well, you know, Mr. Dixon, and yes, the police have spoken about some of these court rulings in the past, and they have spoken about this revolving door.
00:44:19And they have also spoken that members of the judiciary need to do more.
00:44:24Of course, the argument from members of the judiciary has been that they are working within the law.
00:44:32But do you get the impression, Mr. Dixon, that judicial officers, they do understand the pressures that the citizenry is facing as it relates to crime?
00:44:48And since criticisms and statements of, let's say, the police association and other high ranking police officers in the past about court rulings, have you seen a change at all?
00:45:03Well, that's an interesting question. Let me just say this. From where we sit, we are not attempting to play the blame game.
00:45:13And we as the police officer have accepted our role and function to be the primary agency in terms of law enforcement and protection.
00:45:24We are part of the criminal justice system. Our judicial officers need us to do what we are doing for them to have functionality. And that is a fact.
00:45:37That means that our society has degenerated considerably over the last decade. And what we are seeing now is more or less the situation played out itself in the public domain.
00:45:54The public has a role to play. If you listen to the public commentary, you will realize that the public is also asking for more from the judiciary.
00:46:05And if the judiciary is not in connection or not connected to the public, it simply means this entire funnel that we call the criminal justice system,
00:46:18where the public is the wider body doing the engagement, doing the analysis, doing the validation,
00:46:25and they are feeling that there is a disconnect with judgments or rulings done by the court in relation to criminal responsibility,
00:46:38then the entire system could become compromised. The legitimacy of the criminal justice system could become compromised.
00:46:47Because we have data which shows, and I'll just call out some quick data here for you. And I'm speaking specifically to 2023 and 2024,
00:46:59where we have first-time offenders going before the court and repeat offenders. So this is the data we have.
00:47:09In 2023, in Port of Spain Division, 384 first-time offenders. In 2023, we had 602 repeat offenders in Port of Spain Division.
00:47:24In Southern Division, 690 first-time offenders, 1,564 repeat offenders. Tobago Division, 212 first-time offenders, 277 repeat offenders.
00:47:38Northern Division, 172 first-time offenders, 395 repeat offenders. Southwestern Division, 301 first-time offenders, 1,051 repeat offenders.
00:47:52Northern Division, again, 331 first-time offenders, 554 repeat offenders. Central Division, 690, 990. Eastern Division, 316, 684.
00:48:13Western Division, 136, 232. For most of those figures, when I call the first data, it represents first-time offenders. Second data represents repeat offenders.
00:48:27In most instances, they have doubled up, as in 2023. But let me just jump fast to 2024. And we are in the ninth month of 2024.
00:48:36Port of Spain Division, 244 first-time offenders, 300 repeat offenders. Southern Division, 319 first-time offenders, 496 repeat.
00:48:50Tobago, 119, 129. Northeastern Division, 74, 170. Southwestern, 119, 394. Northern Division, 158, 202. Northcentral Division, 143, 235.
00:49:12Central Division, 268, 134. Eastern Division, 95, 277. Western Division, 4,601. We are in the ninth month of the year. When you do the tally, so far for this year, we have had 1,585 first-time offenders.
00:49:38We have had 2,738 repeat offenders like this year. And the figures were more alarming last year. Clearly, we have young persons or persons deciding to choose a life of crime as an enterprise.
00:49:53And they are being brought before the court. And they are coming back out and committing new offenses again. The police officers can only do so much.
00:50:06We need an all-of-society approach, both to detail and to restore our country to where we once were. We need to have an understanding that everyone has a part to play.
00:50:26This is not occurring frequently enough. And when this does not occur, then the man on the street who is law-abiding will say, this is unfailing. And then when something happens to them, they will want to take justice into their own hands.
00:50:43And all of this is because we all are looking to play the blame game and everyone not doing what they're supposed to do when they're supposed to do it. So we have to be careful as a people how we move forward.
00:51:00Mr. Dixon, police officers have come under scrutiny again because of what may be perceived as an uptick in police-involved shootings. How do you respond?
00:51:13Well, again, I'm just piggybacking from what the Prime Minister said. It could be that we have more firearms out on the street. It could be that the same numbers I referred to there, where persons are seeing it as a benefit for them to be able to carry out their criminal conduct,
00:51:40they want to engage. And it could be that our officers who continually dedicate, commit themselves to serving the people of Trinidad and Tobago, we are not cowering from what we are seeing into the prevalence of high-power weapons out there.
00:51:59And we have operated within the context of our use of force policy, and the result is what you are seeing. So our best intention would be to try to bring these persons, perpetrators, before the court.
00:52:21But some of these perpetrators have realized that going before the court, they just had to come back out and do the same thing. They are committed to doing what they are doing. And the results are what you are seeing.
00:52:35Mr. Dixon, are your officers up to the task? According to the Prime Minister, he says that there is no prize for second place. And I want to put it in the context of a few weeks ago, we attained the figure of 400 murders in Trinidad and Tobago in record time.
00:52:54We are told that this would have been the highest number and it would have occurred earlier than past year. So again, your police officers are up to the task in arresting this crime situation that we are faced with?
00:53:09There is an interesting question. Again, I said I was privy to Saturday. I recall distinctly that the Commissioner reported that we are 7% higher in terms of murders than we were one year ago.
00:53:28That in itself is of concern to us as an organization. We have the last quarter to pull it back. We have had one murder too much. So every murder is one that is of concern to us, but there is one murder too much.
00:53:44Our officers are up to the task. I would want to put that on record. I'm also saying that our officers are constrained by lack of resources. I would want to put that into the record too. I'm also saying that our officers need to be sufficiently motivated to go up and be on the finishing line. I want to put that in the context too.
00:54:07We are yet to have our meeting with the newly appointed Minister, Mr. Scotland. I believe that that meeting is a significant meeting that could aid in our trust to pull back what is taking place here.
00:54:23On Saturday, the commitment for us to have that meeting within the next week. What about it? We have heard that before. The proof again is in the tasting. So we sit and we wait. We also continue to encourage our officers to be vigilant out on the nation's streets, highways, and byways, and to also ensure that we operate within the parameters of the law.
00:54:53And ensure that we bring those perpetrators before justice.
00:54:56Yeah. Mr. Dixon, thank you very much for speaking with us this morning. We do appreciate it. Bye for now.
00:55:04Thank you.
00:55:05All right. So it's time for a quick break, everybody. We're coming back.
00:55:07It comes naturally to us. Unstoppable energy. We share it. We use it to live better. We are manifesting a green and sustainable future.
00:55:37NGC pursuing sustainability at the forefront of energy.
00:56:07This is your opportunity to win with the Trinidad Express newspapers.
00:56:3120 lucky participants will walk away with tickets to one of five TKR home games, plus a hamburger courtesy of Angostura. Simply look for the entry form at the back of the express, fill it out, and send us a picture of the completed form via WhatsApp for your chance to win.
00:56:48It's as easy. So grab this opportunity to win with the Trinidad Express newspapers. Promotion approved by the NLCB.
00:57:00All the Republic Bank CP election is live and exclusive on CCN TV six.
00:57:13This time check is brought to you by flow. Rediscover flow at discoverflow.co flow inspired by you.
00:57:21Good morning. With your TV six news update to the hour. I am Renessa cutting to the reps will join members of the Mount Hope secondary PTA outside the school this morning to highlight a number of issues.
00:57:43According to the Twitter president, while most of the schools are ready for reopening, quite a number have pressing concerns which need to be addressed.
00:57:53We are looking at the games. Normal.
00:57:58Malik secondary. Move on. Love until secondary.
00:58:04St. Joseph's Secondary, San Fernando Central Secondary, Pleasantville Government Primary School, St. George's College.
00:58:15We have Mount Hope secondary. And I can tell you that the parents are planning a public demonstration and tutor will be present to lend the support.
00:58:27And now for a look at the weather. Sunny conditions during the morning period are expected to give way to a cloudy afternoon with showers in varying localities.
00:58:40There is the high chance of a few heavy showers and thunderstorms in a few areas.
00:58:45Despite this, temperatures are coming in high at 33 degrees Celsius in Trinidad, 32 degrees Celsius in Tobago.
00:58:54Did you know that if you shave one third of what you remove is skin?
00:59:00New Dove helps repair it. So if you shave it,
00:59:05Dove it. New Dove. Replenish your skin after every shave.
00:59:09Get extra value with the Express Classified. Did you know that when you book with the Express Classified, you get an extra value?
00:59:18Get extra value with the Express Classified.
00:59:20Did you know that when you book with the Express Classified, your ad also appears in the Express Classified online, allowing you to reach more potential customers?
00:59:30And now with our new improved search engine, buyers can find your ad by category, by keyword, or even using the features of the item for sale.
00:59:39Once they've found your ad, they can now save it to their devices and return to it later or share it with a friend with just the click of a button.
00:59:46With these online features, you can reach even more customers with the most-read newspaper in TNT.
00:59:51So don't wait. Book your ad today and get extra value with the Express Classified.
00:59:56Consider it sold.
00:59:59Get ready to experience the thrill of the CPL T20 Cricket Live!
01:00:04Cricket Live on Taj 92.3 FM, the official radio rights holder for the CPL Games in the Caribbean.
01:00:11The Republic Bank Men's Caribbean Premier League, August 29th to October 6th.
01:00:16CPL is online, two, three. It's cricket played louder on the station that sounds better.
01:00:22Taj 92.3 FM, the home of CPL.
01:00:27CPL.
01:00:33Thank you, members of the media. This concludes our weekly press briefing.
01:00:39As the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service continues to protect and serve with pride, we are calling on all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to get on board with us to ensure that everyone is able to live in a crime-free society.
01:00:57Are you on board?
01:01:01This is my country and I am on board.
01:01:05I am on board with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Let us save the youth of the nation. Get on board.
01:01:11Crime affects all of us. Children, communities and the country as a whole. Supporting crime victims and working with the police service, I am on board.
01:01:22This is my country and I am on board.
01:01:27My name is Nikolai Blackmon and I am on board with the TTPS.
01:01:31Vision On Mission is proud to partner with the TTPS because crime prevention is everybody's business.
01:01:39We are the National Congress of Incorporated Spiritual Baptist Organizations of Trinidad and Tobago and we are on board with the TTPS in its fight against crime.
01:01:48I am a farmer. This is my country and I am on board.
01:01:53I am Charles Jason Gordon, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Spain. I am on board in the TTPS fight against crime.
01:02:01We are all on board.
01:02:22Do you remember? I will all begin. How could I ever forget? It's the first time. Do you remember? I could be there to call you in the air, call you in the air, call you in the air tonight.
01:02:46Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember?
01:03:10Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do
01:03:40you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you
01:04:10remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember?
01:04:17Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember?
01:04:24Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember?
01:04:31Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember? Do you remember?
01:04:38Stop it! A message from the Counter-Trafficking Unit of the Ministry of National Security.
01:04:54No, son! No!
01:04:59No!
01:05:04Please, no!
01:05:08No!
01:05:38No!
01:06:08The app is already available for persons to download on the app store, right?
01:06:13You can just type in TTSM and you can get it to download both the client app as well as the provider app.
01:06:20Yeah. How long has the app been in operation?
01:06:23Well, the app itself, right now we are populating the app with both clients and providers,
01:06:28but we're looking to actually launch very soon, if not either this week or the next week.
01:06:33All right. So how is TTServeMe going to serve me?
01:06:37Right. So basically, TTServeMe is an on-demand service platform, right?
01:06:43What that means, or what I should say, what we do is that we connect persons who are in need of services or service seekers
01:06:51with service providers, people who offer the services.
01:06:55Now, those services range from power washing, painting, maid services or cleaning services inside the house, landscaping.
01:07:06We have about 80 plus services on the platform, right?
01:07:10So the aim of the platform for both clients and providers is a means of clients being able to request services
01:07:21in an efficient manner and a user-friendly manner, right?
01:07:25On the other hand, for the providers, it offers them market access and a platform that they could use to grow their business,
01:07:34as we have a management suite also included in the platform that helps automate a lot of the processes that the providers will have
01:07:42normally to either outsource or to do themselves.
01:07:46All right. So you spoke about 80 services. All right.
01:07:51So is the platform going to provide all information about this service?
01:08:01Let's say if we're speaking about power washing, therefore, they would speak about the company that is providing this power washing
01:08:09and maybe its experience and maybe the work that it has done in the past and so on.
01:08:14So you can give the user really a description on who they are dealing with.
01:08:20Right. So, yes, the app does all that, right?
01:08:23Now, there are two forms of the app in terms of how you could request services, right?
01:08:28So one is whereby you allow the TT Serve Me app to select a vendor for you, right?
01:08:34The other one is whereby you could actually manually select your provider.
01:08:39So based on your needs, you could actually go through a list of providers that offer those services.
01:08:45You can look at their reviews, look at their ratings.
01:08:48And even if you want to look at their location, even though a lot of our providers, they go to the location.
01:08:55But if our location is a factor, you could also look at location and you can select their provider based on that also.
01:09:01Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about the provider.
01:09:05How, let's say a provider is looking at us right now and he wants to get onto your platform.
01:09:11How does he or she do that?
01:09:13So you go on, if you have an Android phone or Apple phone, you can download the app from the Play Store.
01:09:20When you go on the Play Store, you just have to type in TTSM.
01:09:24The two apps will come up, the client app and the provider app.
01:09:27You click on the provider app and you're signed up.
01:09:29There is a review process because we have to vet both client and providers.
01:09:35So for the provider, the vetting process is a little longer.
01:09:39But after he signs up, the signing up takes about 30 seconds.
01:09:45There will be a review process. And from that process, now you'll gain access to the app.
01:09:50All right. So I choose, I come on to the app, I choose a provider.
01:09:58But is it that you still have to review that provider or that provider is already vetted?
01:10:06No, he's already vetted.
01:10:08He's already vetted.
01:10:09He's already vetted. And as a provider, just saying you do landscaping services, right?
01:10:14So you could actually subscribe to your service that you want to offer.
01:10:18And that means that if you're performing a certain particular service, say landscaping,
01:10:23you will receive a request for power washing or painting services.
01:10:26So as a provider, the request or the job cards, if you want to call it,
01:10:30that you'll be receiving will be specific to your function.
01:10:34Yeah. Is there a particular criteria? Read the provider.
01:10:38Well, the criteria, we welcome entrepreneurs, freelancers and even existing businesses who want to grow.
01:10:46So it could be a new business.
01:10:47But you will have to go through the vetting process to show that you have the criteria to be able to perform the task.
01:10:55Right. If it's that you send your CV or you may have a social media platform that you advertise your business,
01:11:02you will have to go through some form of vetting whereby we will have to check
01:11:05and make sure that you could provide these services to our clients.
01:11:09Yeah. What is the cost to the provider and what is also the cost to the to the client?
01:11:17So for the client itself, signing up on the app is free for the client.
01:11:22For the provider, we have a minimum cost of one hundred at the moment right now.
01:11:27And that actually gives them access to the full the full app itself, including the management suite.
01:11:36So this one hundred dollars is for a year?
01:11:38Yeah. For a fiscal year. Yeah.
01:11:40Yeah. All right. Let me see.
01:11:45Any anything else that you think that that we didn't touch on that you would want to touch on?
01:11:50Yeah. Well, so basically how the app would have started, just to give a brief history,
01:11:58was both due to coming out from post-COVID, right?
01:12:03Need for certain challenges that we would have seen within within the service industry in Trinidad.
01:12:09You know, a lot of it would have been if you want to look at it from the client side,
01:12:15because you would have a number of clients. I'm sure even yourself would have had a bad,
01:12:21a bad job done by a provider. All right.
01:12:24Now, there is the aspect of how do clients normally in the past search or acquire providers.
01:12:33And that was always an issue because most of the time you have to spend 10, 20 minutes searching.
01:12:38If you are a person using Google or the Yellow Pages, where just say if you were to look, look now and search for a plumber.
01:12:45Right. You will see stores come up. Now you'll get a lot of hits, but you will see stores come up.
01:12:51Not actually plumbers providing services. And then when you do scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll,
01:12:56and you eventually reach companies that are offering these services, most of them,
01:13:01especially coming out of COVID, are no longer in operations.
01:13:05You know, the number itself going no longer in service or somebody else assigned that number.
01:13:11Right. So what we what we offer as TC Serve Me for the client side is a means of efficiency.
01:13:20Customer convenience. Right. And a way of actually you as the client being able to give customer feedback and reviews now.
01:13:29Right. So in essence, we are creating a system that also holds that provider accountable and makes them offer a certain level of customer experience.
01:13:40Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about cost saving solutions.
01:13:45I'm very interested about that. And I'm sure our viewers would also be.
01:13:49So for the provider, we basically the automation of his whole process.
01:13:55So the invoices are automated. Right. How we go about if you if he's an establishment that has one, two or three employees,
01:14:04that process in terms of how he communicates to his employees are also automated, whereby they could post update on jobs from wherever they are.
01:14:15And that owner now could actually see what is going on on the field in life, real time. Right.
01:14:22We would have also, like I said, with the order management. Right.
01:14:29And improve the whole efficiency and the cost of the efficiency of your cost and how you run your business itself.
01:14:36Yeah. Is there cost saving for the client, too?
01:14:41Yes. So we have different promotions that we run. Right. That offer cost savings.
01:14:47Also, what TTC also do is that we try to have some form of cost control.
01:14:56Right. Now, as you as you are sure you would have experienced, you might go by one provider and they have a very different cost from the next one.
01:15:04Yes. Right. So we try to actually have a system that we we cost controls in that sense.
01:15:14Right. Now, there are also a feature on the app because we understand that at the end of the day, services could range.
01:15:21They are specialized services. So we also have on the app means of service seeker or client creating customized requests.
01:15:32Right now, in cases of those that will have to go out to the providers and they can bid for the job.
01:15:37So the providers could bid and, you know, could choose which provider you want based on his cost, his experience,
01:15:45his rating, his reviews, and even what his services is in terms of what he provide provides you.
01:15:52Speak to the issue of confidentiality, because I think in these times people are a bit hesitant in sharing information,
01:16:02their names, their addresses, their phone numbers and everything else that that I'm sure that you would be asking both clients and providers for.
01:16:13Right. Speak to that. Speak about your system and how people's information is going to be protected and not end up in the wrong hands.
01:16:25So on our system, we deal with a third party provider. Right. So he has been certified. His system is encrypted and everything.
01:16:35Now, on the aspect of our side, because we do ask for for providers and for the clients.
01:16:44Yes. Certain credentials. Of course. Right. So the provider credentials is uploaded on the platform that that is also encrypted.
01:16:54Right. On the aspects of the client, they don't really need to send us and they don't need to enter any personal information
01:17:02itself on the app itself, other than their name and the contact number, which, again, is also encrypted.
01:17:08But we do ask for part of the vetting process because we understand that persons have that need to and are concerned,
01:17:16especially where these things are new to Trinidad. Right. Given all certain credentials.
01:17:21So like for the for the client app, we do ask at least for a front picture of their ID.
01:17:28We do ask for the back. We just ask for the front picture so that we could confirm that their name and their identity.
01:17:34Yeah. All right. So, Maurice, how do people sign up?
01:17:39Right. So to sign up on TTServeMe, you can check us on Facebook for one.
01:17:45TTServeMe. Right. You could also check us on Instagram or you could actually contact myself, 357-0949, as well as you can download the app.
01:18:01Yeah. So you expect full operation of the app by when?
01:18:05Looking at two weeks. In two weeks? Yeah. All right. Anything else you'd like to add, Maurice?
01:18:11Any questions? I think we have spoken about it extensively. Right.
01:18:16We have given all of the contact information and so on.
01:18:21Well, Maurice, thank you very much for coming this morning. I wish you all the best with your TTServeMe app.
01:18:26Thank you for having me. Of course. All right. So we are going to a very short break. We are coming back.
01:18:41Make the right choice in eyewear at Seaview Optical. Get complete single vision lenses with frames for $299.
01:18:52Single vision lenses with transition and designer frames $899. And get your progressive transitions with designer frames for $1499.
01:18:59At Seaview Optical, affordable eyewear for everyone.
01:19:03It's man versus man versus machine in the TV6 VR Cricket Challenge.
01:19:09Face off against a virtual reality bowler to win the grand prize of a trip for two to St. Lucia or one of our exciting consolation prizes.
01:19:19To register is easy. Simply download the TV6 app and sign up by answering a simple question.
01:19:25There's no cost to enter and anyone can play.
01:19:30I can feel it coming in the air, coming in the air, coming in the air, yeah.
01:20:13I can dance. I can sing. I can speak. I have ideas. I can debate. I can reason. I can write. I can draw. I can paint. I can protest.
01:20:32I can stand up for my rights and I can enjoy my rights. I have the right to express myself.
01:20:42Children have rights.
01:21:02All right, everybody, so welcome back on this very cold morning in Port of Spain and I'm sure in other parts of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:21:31Take your time out there. Take your time.
01:21:33This morning it was a bit frightening for me because of the poor visibility.
01:21:38Yeah, but be careful out there.
01:21:41So a former principal is warning of chaos at the beginning of the new school term.
01:21:46All right. So former Naparima College principal Dr.
01:21:49Michael Dowlath has questioned the government's use of over 20 million dollars in funding for school repairs during the July August vacation.
01:21:57Warning that today's opening of the new academic year will be chaotic.
01:22:01Now, he was speaking at the UNC's Weekly Sunday news conference yesterday where Dowlath said many schools were not ready with repairs that have been overdue.
01:22:12While parents and guardians must incur further costs and stress to send their children to alternative locations for schooling.
01:22:22But I just find it is like we are constantly, constantly faced with these problems at the beginning of the new school term every year.
01:22:33So you do have a situation. Think about it.
01:22:37If you're a student, if you're a parent, if you're a teacher, the situation facing you this morning is because you don't necessarily know what to do, you know.
01:22:49So parents are getting up five, six o'clock to take their children to some schools.
01:22:56And you do have the possibility when you do that, they may be faced with locked gates or you may be faced with a situation where the teacher or the principal is at the gate telling you, here's what you're going to have to return home, you know.
01:23:13And in most cases, the parent is taking some time out or is on the way to their work, to their workplace.
01:23:22So it means now if I'm a parent who is working six o'clock in the morning or eight o'clock in the morning and I have to drop my child off at seven, half past seven, and then you're telling me, well, here's what now.
01:23:34Miss, you need to drop your son, you need to drop your daughter back home.
01:23:38What's your situation?
01:23:42So I think that it is, it has to be addressed.
01:23:46And it can't be that every year at the beginning of every school term we're talking about the same thing.
01:23:53I'm sure you can tape the interview that we did this morning, compare it to the one that we did at the beginning of the last school term and see.
01:24:03You may think it's the same interview, right?
01:24:06But it's the same problem.
01:24:09Imagine, I remember Mr. Roberts telling me some months ago, they're speaking about rats, rats at a school in Tobago.
01:24:18And you remember, I remember speaking to a lady in South Trinidad and remember what she was telling me about, about electrical problems.
01:24:25And some children are going into that environment and we cool with that.
01:24:30Nah, man, we have to do better.
01:24:32We have to do better.
01:24:35Yeah, and then we want to speak about, then we want to speak about, we want the best results at the schools.
01:24:41And, and, but you have a problem with furniture.
01:24:45And I understand that.
01:24:47I do understand that.
01:24:49Here's what, that this is really, it's a situation that changes because you can have the smooth opening of a school today.
01:24:59But by tomorrow, your lighting goes out.
01:25:01There are plumbing problems, furniture.
01:25:04I do understand all of that, you know.
01:25:06But I just think that it's a situation every year where we're spinning top in mud.
01:25:11All right.
01:25:12So here's what we do have a few minutes before our next segment.
01:25:15All right.
01:25:16Let's take some calls.
01:25:17623-1711.
01:25:19The extension is 1995.
01:25:20You can speak about this situation at the nation schools.
01:25:23You can speak about what the prime minister would have said at Independence Day celebrations.
01:25:28Of course, he was speaking at a toast of the TTPS where he's telling the TTPS there is no second place, you know.
01:25:34And he was also speaking about his concerns about the judiciary and some of the rulings that he would have seen in the past.
01:25:43Of course, the government, national security minister, the prime minister, they have both spoken about the standard, if I can put it that way,
01:25:52of rulings and judgments by the courts as it relates to the criminal element.
01:26:01I was a bit shocked by what ASP Gideon Dixon revealed this morning and provided the data.
01:26:10That's new data to me.
01:26:13But it tells the situation, a stark, a stark explanation as to what is happening in Trinidad and Tobago and the courts and the persons who are just going through the courts and out on the streets.
01:26:27Yeah.
01:26:28You're calling us on 623-1711.
01:26:29The extension is 1995.
01:26:31People sleeping this morning.
01:26:32Yeah.
01:26:33In the cold weather, they have their covers on them and they're sleeping.
01:26:36Let's take some calls, man.
01:26:38Let's hear your views.
01:26:39623-1711.
01:26:40The extension, it's 1995.
01:26:44All right.
01:26:45So, there is an urgent need for strategic action on the Latin American migrant influx in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:26:51So, regional and strategic security consultant, Garvin Hira, said this could include utilizing Venezuelan nationals in various areas of national security.
01:27:01Remember last Thursday, Father Eric Thompson, while he was speaking at an interfaith service being held by the TDPS, he said that the TDPS ought to employ Venezuelan nationals, especially women, to help treat with rising crime.
01:27:19You remember all of that?
01:27:20Yeah.
01:27:21Well, Mr. Hira would have spoken in connection with that.
01:27:26Ex-soldier killed during fireworks while citizens were enjoying the fireworks display in San Fernando in celebration of this country's independence.
01:27:34Gunmen may have used the noise to camouflage the murder of 27-year-old Kadeem Ashford.
01:27:40Good morning, caller.
01:27:41Good morning, sir.
01:27:42Caller, you there?
01:27:43Yes, I'm here.
01:27:46Caller, let me hear you.
01:27:48The world is listening on you.
01:27:49Let's hear you.
01:27:51I can tell you.
01:27:56Caller, go ahead.
01:27:59You have to understand.
01:28:01Caller, you need to listen to me on the phone.
01:28:05Don't listen to me via the television set.
01:28:07Mute your television and come back.
01:28:09We want to hear from you.
01:28:10All right?
01:28:12You have that resolved?
01:28:14Speak to us, sir.
01:28:15All right.
01:28:16The caller is gone, yeah?
01:28:19Mute your television sets, yeah?
01:28:20We want to hear from you, but, you know, you can't listen to two voices at the same time.
01:28:24All right?
01:28:25So you're calling us on 623-1711, the extension.
01:28:27It's 1995.
01:28:28We don't have a lot of time, so if you do want to speak with us, well, you can do so now.
01:28:34Vendors complain of slow sales.
01:28:36Have you been able to fulfill your child's back-to-school needs ahead of the opening of the new academic year?
01:28:42All right, let's take Diego Martin.
01:28:44Diego Martin, good morning.
01:28:47Good morning.
01:28:48Morning, sir.
01:28:50These contracts that are given out to the schools and the different learning facilities, I have an experience already in the past.
01:29:01When we went on the job, we had subcontractors.
01:29:05The contractors don't know absolutely nothing about the job.
01:29:10When you open a trunk, it's only flags and party stickers of the Red Party.
01:29:18Right?
01:29:19So we need to look at the standard and quality of these contractors who get the job, and it should be transparent across the board.
01:29:30A lot of people get them contracts, and they don't know anything, anything about the job.
01:29:37Thank you.
01:29:38Thank you very much.
01:29:40All right, so here's what, everyone.
01:29:42We are going to have a very short break.
01:29:43We'll be coming back.
01:29:45New remedy for the healthy function of the nerves in the feet and legs.
01:29:49The remedy is a safe and strong vitamin formulation that works to reverse tingling, numbness, shooting pains, and burning in the feet and legs.
01:29:57It's amazing.
01:29:58I never thought it would work so quickly.
01:30:00I'm not getting any pains in my foot.
01:30:02I used to.
01:30:03Within two days, I was able to get my foot back on track.
01:30:07Your remedy is available at all major pharmacies nationwide.
01:30:10Call or WhatsApp them at 707-0680.
01:30:16The choice is clear.
01:30:18The TV6 News is the number one news broadcast and the most watched program in TNT, including all cable programming.
01:30:27The choice is clear.
01:30:28The TV6 News is the number one news broadcast and the most watched program in TNT, including all cable programming.
01:30:36With over 50% more eyeballs than the closest competitor, advertisers trust the TV6 News to deliver their message to their target audience.
01:30:44Competitive rates ensure the biggest brand per buck, and the authority and reputation of the newscast help to build and maintain trust in your brand.
01:30:52So regardless of the size of your business, the choice is clear.
01:30:57TV6 News delivers results.
01:31:04Some of us like to test limits, but there won't always be second chances.
01:31:10Obey the speed limits.
01:31:12Maybe you don't value your life, but others value theirs.
01:31:23A message from the TTPS.
01:31:27Hola, my name is Elena.
01:31:30It's actually not my real name.
01:31:33You don't really care, do you?
01:31:36All you care about is once you pay your money to my boss that I look pretty, smell nice, smile for you, and let you have a good time,
01:31:47enjoying yourself and doing to me whatever you want to do for the money you pay.
01:31:52What you don't see or know is that I don't get any part of the money you pay.
01:31:58My boss takes all of it.
01:32:00I am forced to work, taking as many clients as my boss tells me to.
01:32:06I am beaten, made to take drugs, and I cannot leave this kind of work on my own.
01:32:15I am a victim of human trafficking.
01:32:18Please, por favor, help me.
01:32:45I'm dedicating that song to my next guest.
01:32:49Liz Williams, the Marketing and Media Manager, Bocas Lit Fest.
01:32:54Liz, thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:32:56Thank you. It's nice of you to dedicate that song to me.
01:33:00Liz has braved the rains to come in.
01:33:03She tells me outside it's still overcast.
01:33:06Liz, let's speak about the Bocas Academy.
01:33:09Yes, it's the newest initiative of the Bocas Lit Fest.
01:33:13Everyone knows the Bocas Lit Fest for the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, the annual literary festival.
01:33:19We are a literary organization, the largest in the Anglophone Caribbean.
01:33:23The Bocas Academy is a way that we've structured a diverse curriculum of programs
01:33:32for writing and professional growth for writers of the Caribbean diaspora.
01:33:38It's really us taking over a decade of the types of workshops,
01:33:43our alum facilitators who are acclaimed writers, award-winning writers,
01:33:48and some of our own staff who are also very well-versed in different genres of literature
01:33:54and putting it into one platform that can be accessed from all over the world
01:33:59by anyone who wants to refine or grow in the space of literature and writing.
01:34:05Who's it for?
01:34:06It's for everyone.
01:34:08However, there are a couple along the way, because this is just the first term,
01:34:13this is our first term, and in this term, when you go to the Bocas Academy,
01:34:17which is academy.bocaslitfest.com,
01:34:20you will see what the prerequisites are for each of the courses that we'll be having this term.
01:34:25One of them, the first by Ira Mathur, is on memoir writing,
01:34:28and that requires you to present a piece, 500 words,
01:34:32so that she will be able to help you work through that piece.
01:34:35The classes are small and intimate.
01:34:37They have a minimal comparative course that's very accessible,
01:34:41but you will see what writing level they are for, so you would know if it's for you.
01:34:47Let's go through the program, Liz, because this is in September,
01:34:55two-part workshop, and then we move on to October.
01:34:58October, yes, your poems are powerhouses.
01:35:01So this is geared towards poets who want to present their work as manuscripts,
01:35:07want to enter into fellowships, are looking to seek out publishers and so on,
01:35:11so that also requires you to present work that you want to refine.
01:35:15It's with former Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Olive Senior,
01:35:19and our very own Shivani Ramlutian, who is a poet as well,
01:35:24and that's a two-part as well, and then we move on to, that's three parts, sorry,
01:35:29and then we move on to November, where we try to capture
01:35:33those who want to perform poetry, and Marlon, you are going to be in that,
01:35:37because you're going to be in the First Citizens National Award next year,
01:35:41with Wendell Mann-Warren and Elisha Bartels,
01:35:44so they're going to show you how to bring your poems to life on the stage,
01:35:49and they're all very accessible and very affordable.
01:35:53But what I've realized thus far, in what you're telling me here,
01:35:58you are exposing the new poets and writers, however you want to put it,
01:36:07to people who are in the industry, who have been successful at it,
01:36:13and what you are really providing, it's not only how to mould these individuals,
01:36:21but to provide a roadmap too, right?
01:36:23Yes, correct, because it's always been, of course, a mission of the book
01:36:27at Sledfest to find new voices and encourage those who have stories to tell
01:36:32from the Caribbean to tell their stories, and for us to consume, read,
01:36:37experience their stories in the way that they tell them.
01:36:40And in doing so, it is, I guess it's inevitable, it's imperative
01:36:45that we find ways to present an enduring resource for writers
01:36:50and those who never thought they wanted to write before,
01:36:53and then come into our workshop, and then all of a sudden,
01:36:56they are on the way to receiving internationally acclaimed awards and so on.
01:37:02And so by bringing the people who have interacted with our festival,
01:37:06who have participated in things from the book at Sledfest, to you,
01:37:10it's like you're learning from someone who's passed through our system
01:37:13and who's contributed to our growth as a literary organization.
01:37:17And I don't think you could get it any better than that.
01:37:20It doesn't get better than this, as David Rudder would say, right?
01:37:23Yeah, but let's speak a little bit more about the benefits
01:37:27to the writers across the Caribbean and the diaspora.
01:37:31Yes, well, firstly, because a couple of those are virtual,
01:37:36it means that it doesn't matter where you are in the world,
01:37:39you are able to access the resources from the book at Sledfest.
01:37:42On our website, we also have a resource section
01:37:45where writers can learn how to get over writer's block,
01:37:49who can read the stories of writers who have come before us,
01:37:52who can learn about different awards that they can apply for.
01:37:56And when you go there, you will also see a little bit about our facilitators.
01:38:00You would learn about the intimate sessions in our workshops
01:38:04and whatever else we have coming up after, just join the mailing list
01:38:08and you will get the information as it drops.
01:38:11I don't know about all of you, but I'm a little excited about this, you know.
01:38:16Let's talk about some free resources and alumni events
01:38:20that participants will have access to and through the Book Us Academy.
01:38:26Well, at the moment, on our website, you'll see where the free resources are,
01:38:31but of course, eventually, after we go through this term,
01:38:35you never know what happens, at the end of the term,
01:38:38we want to be able to build a community for our writers
01:38:42so that they're able to interact with their peers and tell stories with their peers.
01:38:46And I want to make a special note that the Book Us Lit Fest
01:38:50is about to go into its 15th anniversary in 2025.
01:38:55And so evolution and innovation is at the forefront of what we do now,
01:39:00more than ever, because we understand the responsibility
01:39:04that we have in the Caribbean diaspora to bring literature to a higher level.
01:39:09And this is just one way of us doing that,
01:39:12aside from wanting to become also self-sustaining,
01:39:15because we are an NGO, but we do have resources.
01:39:18And there are ways that we want to be able to build more so that we can give more.
01:39:24And this is also another way of us doing that.
01:39:27All right. So let me understand this.
01:39:29So the term begins in September.
01:39:32Yes.
01:39:33All right. So that's a two-part workshop.
01:39:35I guess what I'm getting at is that, is it that each person who signs on—
01:39:46so when you're finished in September, you move on to October now?
01:39:49No.
01:39:50No.
01:39:51So what happens is—
01:39:52Separate.
01:39:53Yeah, every workshop, everything is separate,
01:39:54because there's so many different things that writers want to learn about,
01:39:57and there are so many things that they need to be developed in.
01:40:01So what we're doing is we are strategically choosing certain things
01:40:06that maybe our audience is calling for, trends that we may follow,
01:40:12and then just things that come up all the time.
01:40:15We've been paying attention.
01:40:16We've been listening to what people want to learn,
01:40:19and we've been putting things in place for that.
01:40:21So this is just the first term, but you can look forward to what will be—
01:40:24we're already programming for all of next year,
01:40:27and that comes from the feedback that we've gotten from the community.
01:40:31So it doesn't mean that you stop there.
01:40:33It means that you look at different things that build you,
01:40:36and then you go to our resource section and pull from there as well,
01:40:40and then you join the mailing list to learn about whatever else we have coming up,
01:40:43and then, of course, come to the NGC VocalSlit Fest,
01:40:46which will also have workshops inside of there,
01:40:48opportunities to meet people, network, learn more.
01:40:51So there is always a continuation and a building,
01:40:54and we're trying to touch on everything that our community wants and needs to grow.
01:40:58But it does not prevent me if I want to do the workshop in September,
01:41:03and then I feel I want to do the three-part master class.
01:41:07It doesn't prevent me from moving on and on and on.
01:41:09Not at all. Not at all.
01:41:10And you just look at your writing skill,
01:41:12and if you think that you meet that particular prerequisite,
01:41:15because if you look at the workshop in November with Elisha and Wendell Mann-Warren,
01:41:20there is no prerequisite for that.
01:41:23It's poems and performance.
01:41:25So if you think you want to enter the slam,
01:41:28or you just want to start getting your feet wet in open mic sessions,
01:41:33you can go to that and carry a piece, learn, they'll teach you how to deliver and all of these things.
01:41:38So what I also want to note is that all of our workshops, master classes are intimate.
01:41:45Our classes aren't very big.
01:41:47They provide that one-on-one feedback,
01:41:49that ability for you to be able to speak directly with the facilitator
01:41:53and feel the full and experience the full amount of value out of that workshop or master class.
01:41:59All right. So let's get back to the term beginning in September.
01:42:02When does this begin?
01:42:03We're looking at later on in September.
01:42:06So you just have like probably a week or so before you get yourself together,
01:42:10and you submit your piece, because I believe the deadline to submit your piece is the 15th or the 12th of September.
01:42:17You can check there and make sure.
01:42:19But it's close.
01:42:20And so you need to write your 500 words of whatever story you may need to tell.
01:42:25Maybe you want to talk about your family history.
01:42:27Maybe you want to write something about yourself, a memoir.
01:42:30A memoir won the OCM Prize for Caribbean Literature this year by Zafia Sinclair, how to say Babylon.
01:42:38Ira Mathura would have won for nonfiction last year the OCM Prize for nonfiction on her memoir, Love the Dark Days.
01:42:46So you understand she is just well-fitted to teach that.
01:42:49And if you have that story to tell about your family tree, about someone that you love, about yourself, that's a workshop for you to get yourself involved.
01:42:58All right. So tell me, how do people register?
01:43:01Well, you go to academy.bocaslitterfest.com.
01:43:04You will see all of the information there, the facilitators, the link to register.
01:43:09You can send us an email on workshops at bocaslitterfest.com.
01:43:13And of course, follow us everywhere at bocaslitterfest.com on social media, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Twitter.
01:43:20All right. Anything else you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:43:24I just want to let Trinidad and Tobago know that now is the time for us to really tell our stories.
01:43:31We've been making impact in waves across the globe, winning a lot of prizes.
01:43:36And the Boca Slit Fest believes that there are so many untold stories that still need to be heard, not only here and in the Caribbean, but across the world.
01:43:45And this is a space for you to be able to begin that journey and join our alumni in telling Caribbean stories.
01:43:51You know, I feel that, and I would love to, and I hope that you all have data on that, because I think that there has been a great interest.
01:44:02And also by the young people in getting involved and writing the poems and writing and getting their views out there.
01:44:12And I think that you all have provided this, and you all have to be credited for this.
01:44:18Thank you.
01:44:19Trying to expose, you know, some of the talent of our young people, because I think that sometimes young people have so much to say, but they don't know.
01:44:28They don't have the forum to do that.
01:44:30And you all have provided that.
01:44:31So, Alet Liz Williams, it's always a pleasure speaking with you, and thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:44:37Thank you for having me.
01:44:38Of course.
01:44:39All right.
01:44:40So, we are going to a very short break, everybody.
01:44:42We're coming back.
01:44:44Make the right choice in eyewear at Seaview Optical.
01:44:57Get complete single vision lenses with frames for $299.
01:45:00Single vision lenses with transition and designer frames $899.
01:45:03And get your progressive transitions with designer frames for $1499.
01:45:07At Seaview Optical, affordable eyewear for everyone.
01:45:10The number one digital news publication in TNT, the Trinidad Express ePaper, gives you more ways to subscribe.
01:45:17Whatever your style, we've got you covered.
01:45:20Call, e-mail, download the Trinidad Express app for Apple or Android, or visit digital.trinidadexpress.com and begin your journey into the enhanced ePaper experience.
01:45:32Enjoy bonus pictures and videos with select stories.
01:45:35Get articles translated into 11 languages.
01:45:38Use the convenient voice reader function when you're on the move.
01:45:41Set up customized alerts and never miss a story with access to past editions at your fingertips.
01:45:47The Trinidad Express ePaper gives you more ways to subscribe.
01:45:51Sign up today for a free 90-day trial.
01:45:54All the Republic Bank CPL Action is live and exclusive on CCN TV6.
01:46:10Inspiration through song makes our souls rejoice.
01:46:15Go out and tell the world of Jesus.
01:46:19Tell of the wondrous things he has done.
01:46:23Go out and spread the gospel.
01:46:26Inspiration is found in the diversities of nature.
01:46:30Inspired beautiful, direct to the heart.
01:46:35Join us every Monday morning at 8.30am right here on TV6 for our many moments of inspiration.
01:47:05Inspiration is found in the diversities of nature.
01:47:35All right, everybody.
01:48:03So welcome back.
01:48:04So we're joined now by Nirmala Ramkalawan and Sue Ann Mute, contestants from the Miss India 2024.
01:48:11The show took place earlier this year at the Hilton Ballroom.
01:48:15Ladies, good morning and thank you very much for coming this morning.
01:48:17Hi, good morning.
01:48:18All right, Nirmala, let's get right to you.
01:48:21What has the experience been thus far for you?
01:48:24I can tell you it was exciting and it's still ongoing.
01:48:27Of course.
01:48:28It was a journey of learning and understanding yourself.
01:48:32Because the only way to move forward in life is to understand yourself and be a part of something bigger than you.
01:48:38Yeah.
01:48:39So Sue Ann, why did you think that this is a good fit for me?
01:48:44Well, I've always loved pageantry.
01:48:47I've loved how it promotes women.
01:48:50And you could achieve a lot through it, not only through beauty, but there's always a purpose behind it.
01:48:57And thanks to Pageant Worldwide, we are advocating for good health and well-being.
01:49:03And we are promoting a clean environment and we have a lot of initiatives in store.
01:49:08So it's going to be really exciting.
01:49:10Yeah.
01:49:11Now, you had this event on the 14th of July, but this is in preparation for another event, right?
01:49:24Yes.
01:49:25On the 14th of July was the local leg for our show, Miss India Worldwide Pageant, TT.
01:49:31So we are the representatives for each category.
01:49:34Myself, I am in the Miss category and Sue Ann here is in the Misses category.
01:49:39We also have another representative in the Teen category.
01:49:42Yeah.
01:49:43But Sue Ann, let's talk a little bit about what the pageant involves.
01:49:49Because I think for far too long, people felt that these competitions were just for ladies to strut in bikinis and high heels and makeup and long hair and all sorts of things.
01:50:03Yeah.
01:50:04Let's talk about really the essence of the pageant.
01:50:08Okay.
01:50:09It involves a lot of training, not only with strutting, but we have like combat training.
01:50:14We have communication skills training.
01:50:16So you grow as a person, especially for the young people entering.
01:50:20They learn to communicate and manage themselves, not only to look beautiful, but to have a purpose.
01:50:28For example, we are on cleanup campaigns.
01:50:32We go to different parks, different locations, and we promote tourism.
01:50:37So it involves a lot of different activities.
01:50:42Yeah.
01:50:43And Nirmala, because I think that sometimes that these pageants or these type events are really life-changing events and you go into the pageant one way and then when you get involved, it has a transformative type of impact on each individual, right?
01:51:02Yes, I agree with you.
01:51:04I would say that it's like a metamorphosis.
01:51:06You start off at one stage and then you bloom into another.
01:51:09A butterfly.
01:51:10Yes, indeed.
01:51:11Yeah.
01:51:13So, of course, all right.
01:51:14So let's talk about the, is it the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, right?
01:51:21Yes, correct.
01:51:22Yeah.
01:51:23So let's talk a little bit about that.
01:51:25How do you feel going into that pageant?
01:51:28I think we have extensive amount of training with Mr. Richard Young.
01:51:32We have a lot of communication skills with him and our director, Neha Kareena, in teaching us on how to speak, how to represent your country well, and to walk in a manner with grace and poise.
01:51:46At the end of the day, we are here for a purpose.
01:51:48We are here to represent our country, what Trinidad and Tobago stands for, where every creed and race finds an equal place.
01:51:55And we are here to portray our culture, tradition, as well as the Indian diaspora, as well as the diversity that we come from.
01:52:03Yeah.
01:52:04So, Suanne, so you're prepared to go in, I suspect, in front of thousands of people and represent Trinidad and Tobago?
01:52:14Of course.
01:52:15Under the directorship of Mrs. Neha Kareena, I wouldn't be able to, of course not.
01:52:20Yeah.
01:52:22She was led by Mr. Richard Young.
01:52:25We did pageant training.
01:52:27We learned to communicate, to walk as my companion here said.
01:52:31And under Mrs. Neha Kareena, she defined points.
01:52:35So, she taught us the communication, the questions and answers, how to pose, how to keep our poise and keep our grace while maintaining our purpose.
01:52:46Yeah.
01:52:47Nirmala, but what are you all required to do when you get to the pageant?
01:52:52It's about a week of events.
01:52:54Yes.
01:52:55We will have, from the beginning, our orientation, and we will be in New Jersey for this second part of the leg.
01:53:05Okay.
01:53:06And be a part of the worldwide competition.
01:53:10So, be involved in other activities that would require us to communicate about our country and represent our country at different locations.
01:53:20In addition, we will also have a talent show, which is a lot of fun.
01:53:24Yeah.
01:53:25All of the girls who are representing Trinidad and Tobago have a wonderful talent.
01:53:28Yeah.
01:53:29I play keyboard in particular.
01:53:30All right.
01:53:31Suander is in monologue.
01:53:32Yeah.
01:53:34So, we have the talent show and the gown aspect, and on the final night, we will be in our traditional Indian way, in a langar, in particular, and there will be a question and answer segment.
01:53:44Yeah, man.
01:53:45Nirmala, you should have walked with your keyboard here this morning, man.
01:53:47Keyboard.
01:53:48I'll play you a little tune.
01:53:49So, Suander, you're doing a monologue.
01:53:51Yes.
01:53:52I'm doing a monologue on domestic violence.
01:53:54Okay.
01:53:55Which is a current topic right now, especially for women.
01:53:58So, it is a very emotional monologue.
01:54:01I'm not going to reveal too much.
01:54:02Of course.
01:54:03Of course.
01:54:04Yeah.
01:54:05Yeah, because I'm advocating for good health and well-being, especially in women.
01:54:09And nowadays, you have a lot of postpartum depression, a lot of mental health issues, and people are shying away from the topic.
01:54:17And I'm trying.
01:54:18I'm going to, during the coming year, I'm going to advocate and create awareness, especially in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:54:27All right.
01:54:28All right.
01:54:29Nirmala, anything you'd like to tell us before you leave us this morning?
01:54:31Sure.
01:54:32No problem.
01:54:33I'm a doctor by my career.
01:54:35Doctor.
01:54:36Doctor.
01:54:37Go ahead, doctor.
01:54:38But despite that, I have chosen a path with even more purpose.
01:54:43And I would think I would tell everyone that you can dream big.
01:54:47Start from small.
01:54:48Dream big.
01:54:49Just continue.
01:54:50Just keep trying.
01:54:51Don't give up.
01:54:52Yeah.
01:54:53And that's our motto for today.
01:54:54Yeah.
01:54:55Sua?
01:54:56Okay.
01:54:57I'm a doctor at North Central Regional Health Authority, and I would like to say there are no limitations.
01:55:02Yeah.
01:55:03Once you have a purpose and a goal, go for it.
01:55:05Yeah.
01:55:06Ladies, it was a pleasure speaking with you all this morning, and we wish you all success.
01:55:10Thank you very much.
01:55:11Thank you.
01:55:12All right.
01:55:13Bye for now.
01:55:14All right.
01:55:15So that's going to do it for our program for today.
01:55:16See you right back here tomorrow morning at 6 o'clock.
01:55:17Bye, everybody.
01:55:18Bye.
01:55:19Bye.
01:55:20Bye.
01:55:21Bye.
01:55:22Bye.
01:55:23Bye.
01:55:24Bye.
01:55:25Bye.
01:55:26Bye.
01:55:27Bye.
01:55:28Bye.
01:55:29Bye.
01:55:30Bye.
01:55:31Bye.
01:55:32Bye.
01:55:33Bye.
01:55:34Bye.
01:55:35Bye.
01:55:36Bye.
01:55:37Bye.
01:55:38Bye.
01:55:39Bye.
01:55:40Bye.
01:55:41Bye.
01:55:42Bye.
01:55:43Bye.
01:55:44Bye.
01:55:45Bye.
01:55:46Bye.
01:55:47Bye.
01:55:48Bye.
01:55:49Bye.
01:55:50Bye.
01:55:51Bye.
01:55:52Bye.
01:55:53Bye.
01:55:54Bye.
01:55:55Bye.
01:55:56Bye.
01:55:57Bye.
01:55:58Bye.
01:55:59Bye.
01:56:00Bye.
01:56:01Bye.
01:56:02Bye.
01:56:03Bye.
01:56:04Bye.
01:56:05Bye.
01:56:06Bye.
01:56:07Bye.
01:56:08Bye.
01:56:09Bye.
01:56:10Bye.
01:56:11Bye.
01:56:12Bye.
01:56:13Bye.
01:56:14Bye.
01:56:15Bye.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment